Elegy to Exaltation: Ravel, Rota, and Shostakovich

Andreas Ottensamer, conductor
Julie Phillips, harp

RAVEL: "Rigaudon" from Le Tombeau de Couperin
ROTA: Concerto for Harp
SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 5 in D minor, Op. 47

Immerse yourself in an evening of luminous melodies and emotional depth as the orchestra presents a program that celebrates elegance, imagination, and resilience. The concert opens with Maurice Ravel’s “Rigaudon” from Le Tombeau de Couperin, a brilliant tribute to 18th century French dance. Its crisp rhythms and buoyant energy capture Ravel’s unmatched craftsmanship and grace.

The mood turns tender and poetic with Nino Rota’s Concerto for Harp and Orchestra, performed by our own Julie Phillips, a rarely heard gem by the beloved composer of film scores such as The Godfather. In this work, Rota’s distinctive lyricism and cinematic color take center stage, as the solo harp shimmers over a tapestry of orchestral warmth – by turns playful, nostalgic, and dreamlike.

The evening concludes with the monumental Symphony No. 5 by Dmitri Shostakovich. Written under intense political scrutiny, the symphony moves through haunting introspection, defiant struggle, and ultimately, a cathartic triumph. It remains one of the most powerful and emotionally charged works of the 20th century – an unforgettable testament to music’s ability to speak truth and transcend hardship.